Roof



' E. T. GATRELL AND C. R. NEILL'.

- 'RobF. APPLICATION FILED DEC. I2- I919- 1,3 9,235; Patented. Feb. 22,1921.

j j'i gzlo (III Snow/tow WM LfgfGazwz l and 5", v .RJL eiZ XZ/gm 5% M UNITED STATES- EDWARD T. GATRELL AND CHARLES R. NETIJL, 0F TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

. ROOF.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22. 1921.

Application filed December 12, 1919. Serial No. 344,293.

provements in Roofs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to roofs and particularly to roofs for oil tanks and the like and it comprises a roof made of adjacent strips having the sides projecting upwardly and j in substantial metallic contact with each being provided at the extremities of the upturned sides above the metallic fastening means; and it further provides a roof having means for allowing expansion and contraction of the sections without buckling or warping and means for making an airtight and leak-proof roof with all joints sealed but at the same time affording a metallic ground; all as more fully hereinafter set forth and as claimed.

Our invention relates primarily to roofs foroil tanks and the like. The provision of a permanently air-tight and leak-proof roof in the art to which this invention relates is particularly desirous since fires are usually caused by lightning, the ignition being due to a spark striking the escaping gases and vapors from the oil which, especially in weather producing thunder storms, hang low over the tank. Fire caused directly by the lightning striking the metal tanks is infrequent, although should be guarded against.

Attempts have been made to provide leaks proof tanks for storing oil and the like, but these usually include the provision of packing strips or complicated or expensive joints with the result that expansion and contraction of the roof gradually causes loosening of the joints, and with a result that oil seeps through the packing and escapes as vapors to the atmosphere. The packing used also acts as insulation between the parts of the roof and thus prevents grounding in event the tank is struck by lightning. The fiber and rubber gaskets usually used are not practical because they deteriorate when the gasolene vapors from the oil come in contact with them.

The object of our invention is to overcome the disadvantages mentioned and'to provide a roof simple and inexpensive in construction and one infrequently requiring repairs.

In the accompanying drawings showing one form of a specific embodiment of our invention, Figure 1 is a segmental prospective view of the roof;

Fig. 2 is a section of one end of the roof and tank to which it is applied;

Fig. 3 is a section along line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 is a section along line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, we provide a plurality of longitudinal adjacent strips 5 which may continue over the whole surface of the roof or which may be in sections oined at -6 by means of solder or the rivets 7. The sides of these strips 5 are turned upwardly as at 8 and are securely riveted together by rivets 9 at points a substantial distance from the surface of the strips 5. The longitudinal strips being securely riveted, or soldered together at 7 tend to expand and contract at the points 10 (Fig. 3) and since the rivet 9 is placed at a substantial distance above this point the expansion and contraction may be well taken care of, sides 8 separating or going together as the case may be. Ve advantageously make one side 8 (left hand side of Fig. 3) slightly higher than the other side and seal the'shoulder 11 left thereby with solder or other suitable sealing (advantageously metallic) packing material such as solder 14. The expansion d contraction of the strips 5 or the spread i g apart and moving together of the sides 8 have no influence upon the small sections 13 and 11, since they are above the rivet and are permanently securely held together.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, 15 indicates a rafter in the roof and 16 the roof sheathing. The iron strips 5 extend outwardly adjacent the angle iron 17 which is vsecurely riveted to the side of the metallic tank 18 by means of rivet' 19, the joint being calked or filled with solder as is shown at 20.- Above the roof is placed an iron ba 21 and the strips 5 are bolted or riveted to the angle iron 17 and the bar by means of see ' eiice has been made are ail of metal, there is a compiete ii etaihc contact to the ground.

it i-s impossible foiany vapors or gases to escejpe even after the roof has been. in see tinsel use, since while there may he movement between the parts to provide for 8X- pension contraction, the movement is confined to such a point that it is immaterial. The seams and"; joints in which the rain mighs tend to lesi; and from which the vapors might tend to escape are permanently seaieii and are so located, with respect to the fastening means and the rest of the roof that there is no tendency for them to open.

What We claim is 1. A roof comprising adjacent, metallic strips halving the sides thereof projecting upward and in substantial metallic contact with eachother, and metallic fastening means securing the said sides together at a substantial distance from the surface of the strips to aliow i'eietive movement of said ,sse

sides clue to expansion and contraction of 30 the strips, and sealing means at the estremities of said upturned sides above the said metaiiic fastening means. v

2. A roof comprising adjacent metailic strips having; the sides thereof projecting 85 upwardly and. fastening means securing the sides to ether at a substantial distance from the suriace of the strips. to allow relative movement of said sides and expansion and contraction of. the strips, one of said up- 40 wardly projecting sides being longer than the other to provide a space for sealing means, and sealing means iocated in the space thus foilned. I 1

3. A roof comprising metallic strips hav- 43 ing the sides thereof projecting-upwardly and in metallic contact With/each other, the seioi strips being secured neiii' their extremities to a metallic holding member, yieldable" .metaiiic packing between" said strips and 50 said members and s metallic connection ieaciing from said hoidihg member to the gi'oimci.v

In testimony whereof, we aflix our signatui'es hereto.

sow-Ash T. GATRELL. oses. R. NEILL. 

